Combined mouth speculum and tongue support



Feb. 26, 1952 v. J. TERRE 2,587,245

COMBINED MOUTH SPECULUM AND TONGUE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 6, 1950 nu lllllllll x s ulmmnu\ummummuunumnn 74 77 INVENTOR.

A'rme/m Patented Feb. 26, 1952 COMBINED MOUTH SPECULUM AND TONGUE SUPPORT.

Victor LTerre, New York, N. Y.

Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,070

' 4 Claims. ('81. 12812) 1 This invention comprehends improvements in the combined mouth speculum and tongue support disclosed in my co-pendihg application for patent filed November '7, 1947 Serial: Number 784,687, and which matured into Patent No.

2,505,056, dated April 25, 1950.

The improvements reside in structural refinements which make for greater simplicity and ease of operation and applicability. By way of example, the main mouth prop or post is bifurcated longitudinally so as to receive the rod which carries the tongue support, and in turn the rod is mounted on a slidable sleeve which is adjustable in any conceivable position lengthwise of the prop. Further, channels on opposite exterior faces of the bifurcations and paralleling the slot between the bifurcations have been devised to take the bite of dual securing devices provided for both the sleeve and one of the dental arches. The lower end of the prop is equipped with a stop device which acts not only as a thumb or finger hold but to prevent accidental removal of the lower arch. And the tongue support per se is perforated at equidistant points and formed with a frenum arch so that, under pressure, portions of the tongue will protrude through the perforations, while at the same time the arch will grip the tongue, and in this manner serve better to anchor it in position.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of my invention as it would appear in one position of adjustment.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on lines 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a similar View taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 2.

With more particular reference to the drawings, 5 represents a prop or strut in the form of a post and having at the top thereof a dental arch 6. In this instance, the prop is bifurcated for the major portion of its length to present bifurcations and an intermediate slot 8 (Fig. 2).

The outside of each bifurcation-at diametrically pointsis channelled at 9-9; and along the prop are designed to operate a sleeve l0 and bar II. On opposite sides of the sleeve are laterally extending knobs |2--l2 through which thumb-screws I3--l3 project inwardly and engage channels 99. At right angles to the screws and carried by the sleeve is a transversely disposed screw-rod [4, the outer end of which is fashioned into a handle [5, and the inner endofwhich has mounted thereon a tongue support [5 (Figs. 3 and 4).. This support is similar to the one illustrated and described in my co-pending application with the added advantage that perforations I! are equidistantly arranged about its surface and serve to cause portions of the fleshy part of the tongue to extrude therethrough as pressure is exerted through the medium of rod I4. Simultaneously, the arch i8 grips the frenum of the tongue, and the combined clutching action thoroughly anchors the tongue against displacement in any direction.

Bar II also carries a pair of thumb-screws |9-I9, the inner terminals of which similarly engage the channels 9--9, and in this connection it will be noted that the channels terminate flush with the lower distal end of the prop at which point is mounted a screw 20 having a head 2| of greater diameter than that of the prop.

The open-ended feature of the channels permits of easy threading or insertion of the sleeve 10 and bar II with respect to the prop, while head 2| of the screw prevents the sleeve and bar, when loosened, from slipping off the prop and also acts as a finger rest in the initial adjustment of the device in the mouth.

The lower dental arch 22 is secured to the laterally. extending flange 23 of bar ll.

Aside from facilitating a nicety of adjustment of the sleeve and bar, the principle of employing a pair of thumb-screws for locking these components in their set positions makes for dual securing against accidental dislodgement.

In all other respects, the operation of the instrument, and the advantages arising therefrom, are identical with those detailed in my Patent No. 2,505,056. I

I claim:

1. A device of the character describer including a single post which is longitudinally bifurcated for the major portion of its length, a sleeve adjustably mounted on the post and having an adjustable rod extending transversely therethrough and between the bifurcations of the post, and oppositely disposed dental arches carried by the post, the rod being provided at one end with a vertical tongue support and at the other end with a handle.

2. A device of the character described including a longitudinally bifurcated post, a sleeve slidably mounted on the post and having a rod extending transversely therethrough and between the bifurcations of the post, opposite exterior sides of the bifurcations being longitudinally channelled, a pair of dental arches carried by the post, the rod being provided at one end with a vertical tongue support and at the other end with a handle, and a pair of adjusting thumbscrews positioned upon diametrically opposite sides of, the sleeve and one of the arches.

3. A device of the character described including a longitudinally bifurcated post, a sleeve slidably mounted on the post and having a rod extending transversely therethrough and between the bifurcations of the post, opposite exterior sides of the bifurcations being longitudinally channelled, stationary dental arch at the top of'tlie post and a slidable dental arch disposed at the lower extremity of the post. the rod being provided at one end with a vertical tongue support and at the other end with a handle, means incorporated as a part of the device for adjusting the sleeve and the lower arch with respect to the channels, and a laterally projecting portion acting as a stop device disposed at the lower end of the post to prevent the arch sliding from the adjacent extremity of the post.

4 4. A device of the character described including a single longitudinally bifurcated post, a sleeve adjustably mounted on the post and having an adjustable rod extending transversely therethrough and between the bifurcations of the post, and oppositely disposed dental arches carried by the post, the rod being provided at one end with a vertical tongue support and at the other end with a handle.

VICTOR J. TERRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,252,177 Redfield Jan. 1, 1918 1,319,90} Roberts Oct. 28, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 758,813 France Nov. 7, 1933 

